Just Leo, Firenze Fire's lesser-known brother, off to solid start at stud

Just Leo, the lesser-known brother of nine-time graded stakes winner Firenze Fire, is enjoying modest success early in his stud career for Mr. Amore Stable. The 6-year-old’s first crop, consisting of three horses to reach the track so far, has already produced two homebred winners for owner Ron Lombardi and trainer Kelly Breen.

Lombardi sold Firenze Fire to stand at Arrow Stud in Japan in late 2021, but the owner of Mr. Amore Stable still maintains the pedigree of his prized runner through Just Leo, another Poseidon’s Warrior horse out of the dam My Every Wish. Firenze Fire’s younger brother didn’t show the same ability on the track, but he managed to win two races in five starts for Breen in late 2021 before retiring.

Breen, who works closely with Lombardi, explained that when the owner sent Firenze Fire to Japan, he saw the opportunity to pair Just Leo with mares that would have been compatible with his more successful sibling.

Breen, who trained both Firenze Fire and Just Leo, sees glimpses of both horses in Just Leo’s pair of winning colts. Pronti O Meno earned his first victory at Monmouth Park in a $25,000 maiden claiming race on Aug. 31, while Duck Duck Goose defeated a $12,500 maiden claiming field at Delaware Park on Sept. 27. Both colts won in their second starts.

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“They didn't win maiden special weights, but they were good enough to win,” Breen said. “One of the horse’s legs are straight and the other one's legs are not so straight. So you’ve got a little Firenze Fire and you’ve got a little Just Leo in there.”

Juvenile filly Via Via Via, Just Leo’s only other foal to reach the track so far, has finished seventh in both of her starts in maiden claiming company at Monmouth.

Breen acknowledged that Just Leo’s early success at stud has been modest, and a pair of maiden claiming victories aren’t certain to turn any heads or expand the stallion’s stud book any time soon. But for Lombardi and Mr. Amore Stable, these early victories mark generational homegrown success for one of the owner’s most successful bloodlines.

“We don't have Gun Runners or anything like that,” Breen said. “We’ve got Just Leos and we're winning races.”

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